Dispatches from ISM 2014 in Cologne

Sustainability and health needs grow at ISM, says organizer

Dietmar Eiden, vice president of trade fair management at Koelnmesse, on the talking points of ISM 2014

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The confectionery industry is in good shape and demand for sustainable products and those catering to health needs has never been higher, according to ISM organizer Koelnmesse.

In this podcast, Dietmar Eiden, vice president of trade fair management at Koelnmesse told ConfectioneryNews about the latest trends and his impressions of the show.

“What’s really new this year is the trend to sustainable products or to fair trade products,” he said.

For example, Fairtrade International announced at the show that industry commitments alone from the likes of Mars and German manufacturer Riegelein would increase Fairtrade cocoa sales sixfold in Germany in 2014 and deliver 14% growth to Fairtrade cocoa farmers with 6,000 metric tons.

Sugarfree

Eiden added: “We can see a deeper interest in products designed for specific health needs like products free from milk, sugar or free from gluten.”

A growing number of sugar-free products were on display including Beneo’s tooth-friendly bubble gum with its sweetener Palatinose and new varieties of stevia-sweetened chocolate from Swiss firm Villars.

State of the industry

The number of exhibitors at the 44th ISM climbed 5% this year. Eiden said that the growth showed that the industry was in good shape.

“Of course I know that quantity isn’t everything. Therefore I’m really glad that we could convince key account exhibitors to exhibit their brands in ISM like Kellogg with Pringles and the Korean company Orion.”

“The confectionery Industry is very optimistic and self-confident and in my opinion it’s really in a good shape.”

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